Thanks Lebowski, that looks like a good alternative. I don't mind riding on the road, but I've just become used to the trails I suppose. For the first 12 months or so I was riding from Box Hill Stn to Abbotsford via Whitehorse Rd, Cotham Rd, Studley Park Rd exclusively. It's only about 12 km that way, but very direct. The traffic on Whitehorse Rd and Cotham Rd was generally OK, but the Kew Junction and Studley Park Rd could be a bit hairy at times.

I imagine Mont Albert Rd and some of the others are a bit quieter. I might just try this out next week

Thanks Lebowski, that looks like a good alternative. I don't mind riding on the road, but I've just become used to the trails I suppose. For the first 12 months or so I was riding from Box Hill Stn to Abbotsford via Whitehorse Rd, Cotham Rd, Studley Park Rd exclusively. It's only about 12 km that way, but very direct. The traffic on Whitehorse Rd and Cotham Rd was generally OK, but the Kew Junction and Studley Park Rd could be a bit hairy at times.

I imagine Mont Albert Rd and some of the others are a bit quieter. I might just try this out next week

Hi I work near the corner of chapel and dandenong rd, my route is all road very direct and approx 25km each way

from windsor. along chapel over the river and keep going till swan st, hook right turn onto swan then all the way to burnley, turn left onto burnly and keep following it all the way along till you reach victoria, where the ikea is, right turn and keep going up the cutting it turns into barker and keep going, it starts to get a little hilly this way but its good training, follow it till it turns into a t intersection, turn left then right onto mont albert, follow this till you hit the railway xing and turn left just before mont albert station, this takes you to whitehorse, right turn and follow it till you reach your destination, i turn off just after deep creek rd mitcham.

i do the reverse in the morning, 70min door to door in the morning, slightly downhill all the way and 90 min on the return afternoon journey

i do leave early in the morning and i do have great bike lights, updated ayups, and a tioga dual eyes rear blinky with a flea usb helmet light as a back up

Lebowski, I tried this last week and it was chaotic. The number of main roads to traverse where there are no lights, but plenty of through traffic, made it very stop/start. I ended up going as far as Springvale Rd and catching the train from Nunawading.

Rode the old trusty Studley Park Rd - Cotham Rd - Whitehorse Rd route last night to Laburnum and caught the train from there. Very straightforward, no dodgy intersections (apart from into Cotham Rd from Kew) and a constant incline *groan*

michael_w wrote:Rode the old trusty Studley Park Rd - Cotham Rd - Whitehorse Rd route last night to Laburnum and caught the train from there. Very straightforward, no dodgy intersections (apart from into Cotham Rd from Kew) and a constant incline *groan*

You could substitute the bike lane of Mont Albert Rd for Whitehorse Rd. And Barkers or Burwood Roads afterwards, or the sidestreets in between.

michael_w wrote:Lebowski, I tried this last week and it was chaotic. The number of main roads to traverse where there are no lights, but plenty of through traffic, made it very stop/start. I ended up going as far as Springvale Rd and catching the train from Nunawading.

Rode the old trusty Studley Park Rd - Cotham Rd - Whitehorse Rd route last night to Laburnum and caught the train from there. Very straightforward, no dodgy intersections (apart from into Cotham Rd from Kew) and a constant incline *groan*

Chaotic? Well it is start stop, I'd agree with that. The main pain points are Station St and Blackburn Rd as there are no lights so you just need to wait for a gap.

I did the freeway route last week and although it was much quicker than last time I did it in March, it is still longer and feels like you are riding all over the shop. Very zig-zaggy.

I'll give Cotham Rd - Whitehorse Rd a try one of these days, I have been meaning to see what that's like.Unfortunately I find that there isn't a straightforward way from Box Hill to Ringwood which is why I take those back streets. (Ringwood to Box HIll bike path please!!)I tried Canterbury Rd for a section from Nunawading to Mitcham recently and it seemed like I was moments away from being bowled over the whole time.Trying to mix it with cars doing 70km/h when you are pushing to do 30 is no fun.

michael_w wrote:........Rode the old trusty Studley Park Rd - Cotham Rd - Whitehorse Rd route last night to Laburnum and caught the train from there. Very straightforward, no dodgy intersections (apart from into Cotham Rd from Kew) and a constant incline *groan*

Michael,

I took Whitehorse Rd this morning and was a nice ride from Ringwood to Box Hill. After that I just followed Mont Albert Rd and the rest of my usual route.Suffice to say I won't be taking the back roads any more through Blackburn/Mitcham etc

It also took about 15 minutes off my normal time thanks to the directness of it.

Lebowski wrote:Unfortunately I find that there isn't a straightforward way from Box Hill to Ringwood which is why I take those back streets. (Ringwood to Box HIll bike path please!!).

Koonung Trail, Lebowski!

I 2nd that . Here's a video I made in December, showing some highlights from my commute home via the Koonung Creek Trail. The part of my commute from the MCG to the Main Yarra Trail has changed slightly (I now ride Yarra Boulevard instead of Studley Park Rd + High St). I always enjoy riding home via the MYT and KCT.My commute from Melbourne CBD to Ringwood North via the Koonung Creek Trail

Lebowski wrote:Unfortunately I find that there isn't a straightforward way from Box Hill to Ringwood which is why I take those back streets. (Ringwood to Box HIll bike path please!!).

Koonung Trail, Lebowski!

I 2nd that . Here's a video I made in December, showing some highlights from my commute home via the Koonung Creek Trail. The part of my commute from the MCG to the Main Yarra Trail has changed slightly (I now ride Yarra Boulevard instead of Studley Park Rd + High St). I always enjoy riding home via the MYT and KCT.My commute from Melbourne CBD to Ringwood North via the Koonung Creek Trail

I had seen your video earlier in the year which is what put me onto taking that route home, and I also enjoy the ride home on the trail. Nice vid btw..I did the KCT last week for a change, but found it still takes a while for me to get home as I'm going from Prahran across to Kew to pick it up. If I worked in the CBD it would be perfect.

After a bit of route advice here, anyone commute into Sydney city via Epping road? Did a trial run recently and followed the route recommended by Google maps. Turned off where there are the two big advertisement signs and went down West street and then Miller street then through Saint peters park to get onto the harbour bridge. Is this a good route to follow? Anything you recommend I change?

Philipthelam wrote:After a bit of route advice here, anyone commute into Sydney city via Epping road? Did a trial run recently and followed the route recommended by Google maps. Turned off where there are the two big advertisement signs and went down West street and then Miller street then through Saint peters park to get onto the harbour bridge. Is this a good route to follow? Anything you recommend I change?

The only times I've ridden into the city, I've gone up Amherst, straight through at West St, through Cammeray, quick right/left down onto the freeway slip lane, then the cycleway through to Alfred St North, and under the bridge approach at High St to get to the SHB steps. This is much quicker and less argy-bargy with traffic than going through North Sydney.

Philipthelam wrote:After a bit of route advice here, anyone commute into Sydney city via Epping road? Did a trial run recently and followed the route recommended by Google maps. Turned off where there are the two big advertisement signs and went down West street and then Miller street then through Saint peters park to get onto the harbour bridge. Is this a good route to follow? Anything you recommend I change?

The only times I've ridden into the city, I've gone up Amherst, straight through at West St, through Cammeray, quick right/left down onto the freeway slip lane, then the cycleway through to Alfred St North, and under the bridge approach at High St to get to the SHB steps. This is much quicker and less argy-bargy with traffic than going through North Sydney.

Thanks Duncanm. I did think about going this way and will try it when I get the time (nearly holidays yes!). I see a lot of cyclists ride there in the morning, my bus into the city goes on the freeway. It looks like a nice place to ride since it seems all flat/downhill. Only thing I am concerned about is the extra distance since I am actually commuting to somewhere past the city and the distance by going through north sydney is already pushing it.

-There are bus lanes on Windsor Rd so I should be ok (fingers crossed)-M2 is supposed to have dedicated cycle paths right?-I will use the footpath on the short section of Pennant Hills Rd. -I will go on Hannah St as it is quieter and runs parallel to Copeland Rd-I will then follow the train track from Beecroft-There is an offroad path connecting Beecroft to Pennant Hills-Finish at the business centre at Pennant Hills

-There are bus lanes on Windsor Rd so I should be ok (fingers crossed)-M2 is supposed to have dedicated cycle paths right?-I will use the footpath on the short section of Pennant Hills Rd. -I will go on Hannah St as it is quieter and runs parallel to Copeland Rd-I will then follow the train track from Beecroft-There is an offroad path connecting Beecroft to Pennant Hills-Finish at the business centre at Pennant Hills

Yes to bus lane on Windsor Rd being OK.The M2 cycle route is the break down lane BUT its still not open to bicycles with the widening roadworks. That said the section from Windsor Rd to Pennant Hills Rd is complete and I know of one cyclist who rides it regardless. I haven't personally though. I commute from Castle Hill to St Leonards and used to ride out to Baulko and get on to the M2 at Windsor rd myself to do a few more km in the morning. It should only be a month or two until its legal to ride the M2 again.I use the footpath between the M2 and Aiken rd both ways at the moment. It's nice and wide.I've ridden Copeland and Hannah before and your route choice is what I'd do. The rest of your route I have no idea about.

If you want to avoid riding the M2 illegally there's Renown Rd with the massive Big Dipper or ride to Castle Hill and go Crane Rd, Highs Rd, Taylor St, Aiken Rd. there's a footpath between Castlewood Drive and Highs Rd. IMO much better than Renown Rd but plenty of hills of course. No avoiding them anywhere in the Hills.

-I will then follow the train track from Beecroft-There is an offroad path connecting Beecroft to Pennant Hills-Finish at the business centre at Pennant Hills

Just on that last bit... the path really is 'off road'. Its a bunch of steep wood/dirt steps down through a weed-infested gully and back up again.Ok if you don't mind a bit of bike portage I guess, though it'd be a mess in the rain. Then there's a steep short climb back up Wongala.

You don't seem averse to riding the footpath where it makes sense -- I take the eastern footpath on Beecroft and PH's road when ascending between Albert and Trebor Rd (which is where your business park is).

Alternative 2 is cross to the Eastern side of the railway at Chapman, then do Sutherland, steps to Clemente Cl, Azalea, Hampden, which brings you out at the Railway crossing at Pennant Hills.

Another chilly one, about 3.5° at home when I left, and 9° in Melbourne. I didn't wear gloves, and my hands were slightly numb when I got to work. The bike was running very smoothly, as I'd cleaned it on Saturday, and replaced both brake cables (including cable outers + their caps), brake pads, and handlebar tape on Sunday . Looks good, now.

duncanm wrote:Just on that last bit... the path really is 'off road'. Its a bunch of steep wood/dirt steps down through a weed-infested gully and back up again.Ok if you don't mind a bit of bike portage I guess, though it'd be a mess in the rain. Then there's a steep short climb back up Wongala.

You don't seem averse to riding the footpath where it makes sense -- I take the eastern footpath on Beecroft and PH's road when ascending between Albert and Trebor Rd (which is where your business park is).

Alternative 2 is cross to the Eastern side of the railway at Chapman, then do Sutherland, steps to Clemente Cl, Azalea, Hampden, which brings you out at the Railway crossing at Pennant Hills.

I'm already commuting through that gully. I just go through the rocky trail that follows the train tracks to avoid the descent/ascent.

I currently cycle on sections of footpath on Beecroft Rd when coming up from my current residence in Epping. So I'm prepared to ride on footpath to stay alive Not fit enough to keep up with traffic just yet.

Boognoss wrote:If you want to avoid riding the M2 illegally there's Renown Rd with the massive Big Dipper or ride to Castle Hill and go Crane Rd, Highs Rd, Taylor St, Aiken Rd. there's a footpath between Castlewood Drive and Highs Rd. IMO much better than Renown Rd but plenty of hills of course. No avoiding them anywhere in the Hills.

Thanks that sounds like a good alternative to the M2 route - I was actually worried I wouldn't be confident enough to ride on a motorway.

duncanm wrote:Just on that last bit... the path really is 'off road'. Its a bunch of steep wood/dirt steps down through a weed-infested gully and back up again.Ok if you don't mind a bit of bike portage I guess, though it'd be a mess in the rain. Then there's a steep short climb back up Wongala.

You don't seem averse to riding the footpath where it makes sense -- I take the eastern footpath on Beecroft and PH's road when ascending between Albert and Trebor Rd (which is where your business park is).

Alternative 2 is cross to the Eastern side of the railway at Chapman, then do Sutherland, steps to Clemente Cl, Azalea, Hampden, which brings you out at the Railway crossing at Pennant Hills.

I'm already commuting through that gully. I just go through the rocky trail that follows the train tracks to avoid the descent/ascent.

.... I didn't know there was such a thing!

I tried the gully once a long time back in the dark and gave up after that.

I'll have to check it out tonight -- do you enter off this footbridge over the culvert?

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